Bottle-washing apparatus



Aug. 13, 1929. l. R. HIPPENMEYER BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20. 1925 Patented Aug. 1.3, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,724,087 PATENT GFFICE;

IRVING R. HIPPENMEYER, OF W`UIEG-IN, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR T0 THE CREAMERY 'PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORFOR-ATION 0F ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-WASIIING APPARATUS.

Application led September The invention relates to bottle washing apparatus, more particularly to the bottle conveying mechanism in such apparatus.

A commonly used type of bottle washing machine includes a bottle conveyor compris ing bottle receiving pockets supported on driven endless belts, and which carry the bottles through the several positions where they are subjected to the several cleansing operations. The final operation 1s a rinsing or sterilizing spray injected into the bottles while the conveyor is travelling substantially horizontally with the bottles in inverted position.

Milk bottles and others are commonly formed with an inwardly arched bottom. lvVhen in vertical inverted position and after the spray has been applied internally, large drops of rinsing or sterilizing liquid form and remain within the bottle upon the depending arch of the inverted bottom. In consequence, the bottles are discharged from the machine not properly drained, and when, as is the usual practice in dairies, the bottles are immediately filled with milk, the latter is contaminated by the liquid which failed to drain out.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide means for effecting the draining out from the bottles of the residual drops of washing fluid remaining on the inverted arched bottoms, so that the bottles may be delivered to the filling machines in completely drained state. This and other objects will be apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring` to the drawings, I have illustrated in side elevation a fractional portion of the bottle conveying means in-a common type of bottle washing machine which is well known to those familiar with the art, my invention being incorporated therein as hereinafter pointed out. In the complete machine the conveyor is an endless belt carrying bottle pockets and their contained bottles through diiferent compartments and positions in the machine where they are subjected to a succession of washing operations, and finally are carried in substantially horizontal direction over devices for spraying rinsing or sterilizing solution into the inverted bottles, the latter being carried a substantial distance further in such position for the drainage therefrom of the sprayed 20, 1926. Serial No. 136,409.

sproqlet for supporting and driving the con- Y veyor chain l. The conveyor chain, with the pockets 2 mounted thereon, is supported and guided by a pair of tracks 4L and 5, one beneath and one above the travelling chain. A series of bottles 6 are represented in the series of pockets which, upon leaving the rinsing or sterilizing spray devices, are permitted to drain in substantially vertical inverted position. Upon the arched depending bottoms 7 of the inverted bottles, drops of liquid indicated at 8 gravitate to the lowermost point of the arched surface and fail to drain down the sides of the bottle, but remain adhering to the bottom. In order to cause these drops to drain out of the bottle, I have introduced a bend in the tracks t and 5 which diverts the travel of the chain and pockets from the horizontal and causes the bottles to tip laterally so that the bottom, together with all of the other surfaces of the bottle, is inclined downwardly. The drops formed as described then flow across to the side of the bottle and outward through its mouth, as indica-ted at 9 and 10, the bottles being thereafter carried a suiiicient further distance in inverted position to permit the complete drainage of any liquid within them before they are turned in such position that the liquid may not escape by drainage, as is laterally illustrated in the downward movement of the bottles, after leaving the sprocket 3, preliminary to their discharge from the machine. By means of this bend in the guiding tracks and the lateral tipping of the bottles I have eliminated the retention of an objectionable amount of liquid in the bottles which otherwise remained in them when delivered to the filling machines.

I claim as my invention:

l. In bottle washing apparatus, the combination of a conveyor belt, pockets carried by said conveyor adapted to convey bottles lll) in substantially vertical inverted position through a substantially'horizontal path of travel, and guiding means forl said belt and pockets adapted to bend the course of travel 'thereof in an' intermediate portion of said horizontal path so that said bottles are tipped into position with all surfaces thereof inclined downwardly.

2. n bottle Washing apparatus, the coinbination of a conveyor belt, spaced pockets mounted thereon adapted to carry bottles in inverted position, track means for the guidance of said belt and pockets, said track means being arranged. to cont-rol the travel of said belt and pockets in substantially horizontal direction and having a bend therein eifective to divert said belt and pockets out ot' horizontal direction iior an intermediate portion of their travel and thereby incline said bottles so that all surfaces thereof are positioned for the downward flow of any liquid thereupon.

In witness whereof I have hereunto attached my signature.

IRVNG R. HIPPENMEYER. 

